The Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro has become a staple of the esports world since 2020. Razer's trend of consistent refinements has once again reached the DeathAdder, bringing us to the latest in its popular line-up with the DeathAdder V3 Pro. It's lighter, faster, and reforged to aid the top esports pros and gamer's that demand pro-grade performance. It sounds great, but at $149.99 is it worth the upgrade? Join us as we dive in and find the answer to that very question.
Specifications
- Current Price: $149.99 (Razer)
- Form Factor: Right-handed Ergonomic
- Connectivity: Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, Wired
- RGB Lighting: No
- Sensor:
- Type: Focus Pro 30k Optical Sensor
- IPS: 750
- Acceleration: 70
- Programmable Buttons: 5
- Switch Type: Optical Mouse Switch Gen-3
- Switch Lifecycle: 90-million click lifecycle
- On-Board Memory Profile(s): 1
- Mouse Feet: 100% PTFE
- Cable: Speedflex Charging Cable USB Type C
- Tilt Scroll Wheel: No
- Dock Compatibility: No
- Weight: 64g (White), 63g (Black)
- Size:
- Length: 128.0 mm / 5.00 in
- Width: 68.0 mm / 2.67 in
- Height: 44.0 mm / 1.73 in
- Battery Life
- With Standard Hyperspeed Dongle: Up to 90 hours (constant motion at 1000 Hz)
- With Hyperpolling Wireless dongle (sold separately): Up to 24 hours (constant motion at 4000 Hz)
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro – Reforging
In 2020, the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro earned its permanent place as my daily driver. In the years since, I have put this mouse through its paces (including an extensive list of purposeful and, erm, accidental tests) and it’s held up wonderfully. The construction has stood the test of time and continues to provide an excellent, performance-driven experience that I have come to depend on. Despite the tough competition on the market, this mouse is one that I just keep coming back to. So the moment Razer let it slip that a revision was in the works, the allure immediately set in.
Razer has taken the DeathAdder Pro Series back to the forge to not only refine its sensor and spec list, but to undertake a redesign from the ground up. The V3 Pro is lighter than its predecessor, feels amazing in the hand, and when those specs come into play, pushes new limits in competitive play.
Let’s start with the most notable change: the weight. The V3 Pro comes in at an impressive 64 grams (63 if you choose black), a definite trim down from the V2 Pro’s 88 grams. Along with that slimmed down size, Razer has streamlined elements of the design. For example, the DPI buttons have been combined with the power switch and relocated to the bottom. This particular change is going to be hit or miss depending on how often you cycled your DPI. I personally prefer to have a dedicated DPI button ready at my fingertips, so I worked around it by remapping the side buttons; one as my DPI Clutch and the other being the DPI Stage Cycler.
The DeathAdder V3 Pro has also had some changes made to its shape. While it’s still very similar to the V2, the contours have been refined in partnership with top esports pros. Professional gamers have to endure intense gaming sessions over many hours. The V3 Pro is subtly easier to grip without losing its visual identity. To further improve tactility, the body has also been changed from a unibody design to a split key design. There are no more built-in grips either. Those have now been dropped in favor of optional grip tapes that can be applied if the gamer desires. This reduces production costs and gives more options to customize. I would like to note that the grips come in black and that being my unit was white I opted to omit them from my personal use. In addition, the side buttons have been moved up slightly and the overall size has been reduced to accommodate more grips styles while also being easier to actuate.
Perhaps the biggest changes are under the hood. The V3 Pro has been upgraded the Razer’s third generation optical switches. These switches increase switch life from 70 million clicks to an impressive 90 million clicks. Since they are optical and have no mechanical contacts, you don’t have to worry about double-click issues that occur when switches fail due to wear and tear. This mouse may outlast your current build and then some due to the increased resiliency of these switches.
The DeathAdder V3 Pro also sports the same Focus Pro 30K optical sensor as the Viper V2 Pro. While you may not game at 30K, this ensures your clicks remain accurate, even at lower (but still high) levels. Razer quotes a resolution of 99.8%. In fact, the resolution is so high that the mouse can now track on glass (2mm thick or more). The sensor is also able to auto-calibrate across different surfaces so you can quickly change pads if you need to change location.
There are a few more notable changes. The charging port has been changed from Micro USB to USB Type-C. This makes it easier to plug in and potentially easier to replace should anything happen to the original cord. This brings to be one of the changes that makes me a bit sad: RGB is absent from this revision. The trade-off is that the reduced power draw allows the mouse to reach up to an impressive 90 hours of constant motion at 1000 Hz. During my week of use, I am happy to report I have I haven’t had to charge it once after the initial top-off after unboxing. The mouse has traveled with me from work to home and never once has it left me stranded with no way to interact with my PC.
While looks are great, it's the performance we care about. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro - Performance
During my week of testing, I played everything from CS:GO, Minecraft, Doom Eternal and even League of Legends, which I only recently started playing. The mouse was also used for work, which included web browsing and even some time in Unity. Throughout all of this, I had no issues with tracking, responsiveness, or, well, anything. It was a solid experience through and through, and allowed me to improve my skills during longer gaming sessions that would otherwise leave me fatigued.
It was comforting to find that I enjoyed using this mouse so much. In working through this review, I realized how reliant I was on the pre-applied rubber grips. The smooth but lightly textured shell provided enough grip that I did not find myself looking for additional support. Though I may still try the provided grip tapes, I’m being converted to the V3 Pro’s lightly textured design.
A key feature that I have come to depend on is the HyperSpeed Wireless. Like the V2 Pro, HyperSpeed makes it virtually impossible to tell the difference between wireless and wired connectivity. And if you’re worried about the battery dying unexpectedly mid-match, don’t be. You’ll have fair warning if the battery is running low (the top LED will turn red), and if it does you can plug in the provided Speedflex cable and use it wired. It’s soft and light enough that it almost feels wireless, even while you’re recharging your battery.
The new switches feel lower, more solid, and more tactile when pressed. It’s a subtle but noticeable improvement. I had to A/B test both mice to remove any chance of placebo, but it’s true. Razer’s Gen 3 Optical Switches feel and sound better to use. The satisfying click and tactility means you’ll never be left wondering whether your clicks are registering.
While I did not have one for the time of testing, I did want to talk about the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle available on the Razer Store. For $29.99, this dongle can upgrade the polling rate of the mouse to 4000 Hz. It’s a shame this couldn’t have been included in the box, but if you’re looking for even more responsiveness, it’s an option available to you.
Final Thoughts
The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro is a solid mouse built upon an already great foundation. While I will miss the dedicated DPI buttons on the top of the mouse, it’s a great evolution for the DeathAdder line-up. As a fan of the V2 Pro, it’s nearly everything I wanted it to be. The construction is solid, and the upgraded sensors and switches improve performance, and the battery life is tremendous. Coming in at $149.99, it’s very expensive and may not be worth upgrading if you already have the V2. Going back more than one generation, however, or if you’re coming from another brand and want a safe, reliable shape to enter the Razer ecosystem, it becomes an easy recommendation to make.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
